Shelving construction

ABSTRACT

A shelving construction of the type wherein long rows of shelving are assembled from shelving units connected end to end. The shelving construction is provided with apparatus for connecting shelves to upright columns wherein the shelfsupporting brackets are provided with extended lever arms and the columns are provided with embossments or lances for bearing against the extended lever arms for increasing the permissible moment of the shelf. The shelving unit is also provided with apparatus for securing and supporting the upright columns of the shelving units for connection on an end-to-end basis wherein the lower end of the upright columns are provided with stiffening plates for increasing the rigidity thereof and the transverse supporting gussets are provided with members for aligning the end columns of adjacent shelving units and for supporting the aligned columns.

llnited States tent [111 smsm [72] Inventor Edwin F- Schild 2,958,427 11/1960 Branchi 1 21 l/148 Palatine, 111. 3,010,585 11/1961 108/107 [21]Appl. No. 822,239 3,044,632 7/1962 Schild 108/108 X [22] Filed May 6,1969 3,209,709 10/1965 Schoffner 108/108 X [45] Patented Dec. 14, 19713,346,226 10/1967 Shell 248/242 [73] Assign Airway Products Col-PermianPrimary Examiner- Francis K. Zugel Schiller Park Attorney-Hill, Sherman,Meroni, Gross & Simpson [54] SHELVING CONSTRUCTION ABSTRACT: A shelvingconstruction of the type wherein long 8 Qlaims 9 Drawing Figs rows ofshelving are assembled from shelving units connected [52] 11.5. CI.108/108, I end to end, The shelving construction is provided with v108/1 1 l, 21 1/148 paratus for connecting shelves to upright columnswherein the [51] int. Cl. A471) 57/06 shelf-supporting brackets areprovided with extended lever [50] Flelifl 01 Search 1081107, arms andthe columns are provided with embossments or 108, 1 l l, 1 14, 64; 2ll/l48, 177; 43/242. 243, lances for bearing against the extended leverarms for increas- 243 ing the permissible moment of the shelf. Theshelving unit is also provided with apparatus for securing andsupporting the cued upright columns of the shelving units for connectionon an UNITED STATES PATENTS end-to-end basis wherein the lower end ofthe upright columns 1 059,464 4/1913 Hine 108/107 are Provided withstiffening Plates for increasing the rigidity 909,353 10/1959 McLean248/243 thereof and the transverse supporting gussets are provided 2 93147 5/19 0 Stewart 24 243 with members for aligning the end columns ofadjacent shelv- 2 956,688 10/1960 Galassi roe/10s s units and forSupporting the aligned columns- Patented Dec. 14, 1971 3,626,870

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IHV/LN'I HR.

22 241221? ZZg/d Patented Dec. 14, 1971 3,626,870

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 SI'IELVING CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.Field of the Invention This invention relates to shelving assemblies andis particularly concerned with shelving assemblies formed from partswhich are shipped unassembled and assembled as shelving units on anend-to-end connected basis to form continuous shelving of the typegenerally used in self-service stores.

2. Background of the Prior Art Shelving assemblies for installations inself-service type of stores are generally known and widely used in thefield of retail sales. Generally such shelving assemblies aremanufactured and shipped in an unassembled form for assembly on a unitbasis. Attachment of the units end-to-end forms the desired length ofcontinuous shelving. It is also known in the art to provide suchshelving with shelf brackets which may be releasably secured to uprightcolumns of the shelving assemblies at any desired elevation in order toaccommodate various heights of products to be carried on the shelf.

It is most desirable from a material handling, manufacturing,transportation and assembly standpoints to provide the shelvingapparatus from material that is of a light gauge as possible whilemaintaining sufficient structural rigidity to carry the desired type ofmerchandise invariably, however, such constructions are misused in thatthe user is generally concerned with shelf space rather than productweight. For various reasons the shelves are overloaded to the extentthat, not only do the structures become distorted, but may also suffershear. These reasons stem from basic proven marketing principles whichsay, in effect, that increased sales result from displaying as much of aproduct as possible in a pleasing manner and as far forward on the shelfas possible so that the product is within easy reach of the customer.Accordingly, one reason for these adversities lies in the desire for acomplete and pleasing display of a product which is heavier than thetype originally considered. The total movement of shelf and product mayexceed design specifications. This condition is aggravated ininstallations wherein the shelves are adjustable in height permittingthe display of taller, and consequently heavier, products whichincreases the total moment of the shelf.

It is accordingly desirable, and a primary object of the presentinvention to provide shelving of the foregoing character in which thestrength and rigidity of the apparatus is improved so that an increasedproduct weight may be carried by the shelves without increasing thedimensions, material and gauge of the supporting structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved shelvingconstruction wherein increased product weight may be carried by theshelves and increased total weight may be carried by theshelf-supporting structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, according to the invention there isprovided an increased lever arm for shelf-supporting brackets which aread justably positioned at desired levels in slots of a supportingcolumn. The supporting column includes means for engaging the lever armto provide an opposing moment to the moment established 'by the weightof the shelf combined with the weight of the product carried by theshelf. The upright columns at the end of each shelving unit areconnected together and supported by a transverse gusset includingapparatus which releasably engages the columns and attached stiffeningplates which add rigidity to the lower ends of the columns. Thisapparatus is also effective to guide the columns into desired positionsduring assembly and to support the weight of the shelving constructionand the products carried on the shelves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing and other objects andfeatures of the invention, its organization and construction, will bebest understood from the following detailed description of .an exemplaryembodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of shelving under construction being formedin an assembly of individual shelf units in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view, shown partially in cross section,illustrating the assembled relationship between the shelf brackets andthe vertically upstanding shelf-supporting columns;

FIG. 3 is a cross section view taken along the line Ill-Ill of FIG. 2showing the above assembled relationship in greater detail, inparticular illustrating the extended lever arms of the shelf brackettabs and the cooperable lances of the end columns;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary isometric sectional view of a shelf and asupporting column illustrating the mated relationship therebetween;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view, shown partially in cross section,illustrating the assembled relationship between two upstandingshelf-supporting columns at the point of attachment to a transverse basesupporting gusset;

FIG. 6 is an elevation of a fragmentary portion of the transversesupporting gusset illustrating the column supporting members and theapparatus for varying the elevation of the transverse gusset above thefloor for leveling the assembled construction;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the column supportingapparatus and the elevation varying or leveling apparatus taken alongthe line VII-VII of FIG. 6; and

FIGS. 8 and 9 are elevational views of cooperating portions of thecolumn and a stiffening member for adding rigidity to the column in thearea of its attachment to the transverse base gusset, FIG. 8specifically illustrating an inwardly offset portion of the column forreceiving the rigidity member of FIG. 9 and for receiving a portion ofthe thickness of the transverse base gusset so that the opposed facingsurfaces of adjacent columns may be intimately or very closely disposedfor the remainder of the vertically upwardly extent thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawings a partiallyassembled shelving construction is shown generally at 10 formed byconnecting shelving units 10a and 10b together on an end-to-end basis.Each unit generally comprises a plurality of vertically standing columns20 for mounting a plurality of shelf assemblies 30. The columns 20 aredisposed in a spaced-apart relation and have surface plates securedtherebetween to form shelving back members. The shelving back membersare connected together and supported to form a free standing shelvingconstruction by a plurality of transverse supporting base gussets 40.

As shown particularly in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 each upstanding column 20is a generally U-shaped member including a base portion 21 and a pair ofextending leg portions 23. The base portion 21 includes a plurality ofaligned spaced-apart lances 22 extending inwardly between the legportions 23. At least one of the leg portions includes a plurality ofaligned spaced-apart vertically oriented slots 24 for receiving tabs 32,33 and 34 of shelf bracket 31 at any desired elevation. The other legportion may also be provided with slots for mounting and extendingshelves in the opposite direction, as indicated in FIG. 1.

Inasmuch as it is well known in the art that the end mounting bracketsmay be either integral with the shelves, or may be affixed to, or in anyother manner supporting the shelves, reference will only be madehereinafter to the brackets, it being understood that the term may alsoinclude a shelf or an entire shelf assembly.

For horizontal extension of bracket 31, tabs 32, 33 and 34 are fullyinserted into desired ones of slots 24 at a slight downwardly directedangle and then moved and pivoted downwardly for an amount equal to thedepth of slots 35 and 37 of bracket 31. The areas between slots 24 alongforward edge of and between the slots of the tabs become the points ofleverage against total shelf weight. Attention is invited, however, thatas the upper edge of bracket 31 is positioned at a level whereat itstabs 32, 33 and 34 are accordingly positioned so as to be under and incontact with the lower edge of corresponding ones of lances 22, anextended lever arm is provided at each of the contacting tabs and lancesfor resisting downward movement of the extended end of shelf bracket 31.

Products carried on the upper shelves of a construction may be morefully displayed if the shelf is lowered at its forward end and securedat an angle to the horizontal. Therefore, to orient shelf bracket 31 ata downwardly extending angle from horizontal, tabs 32 and 33 areprovided with additional slots 38 and 39, respectively. Insertion of thetabs is performed in a similar manner; however, the bracket 31 is, inthis instance, supported by tabs 32, 33 and 34 in the areas of slots 37,38 and 39 instead of slots 35 and 37.

The shelving construction illustrated in FIG. 1 is shown incomplete inthat the construction may be extended by the connection of additionalshelving units, or it may be capped by finishing strips as is well knownin the art.

When the shelf is in a horizontal position, normally it carries aheavier load than when it is in a downward sloping position. Therefore,it is important to have enough strength built into the shelf to handlethis heavier load. We do this by using both the slots at the front edgeof the upright and the lances at the center of the upright.

Attention is now invited to FIGS. -9 which illustrate the apparatus forsupporting the columns in an upright position. Reference numeral 40generally indicates the transverse supporting base gusset, the basegusset being particularly illustrated in detail in the area ofattachment of the columns. It will be appreciated that the lower end ofeach column is offset inwardly, as particularly illustrated in FIGS. 5and 8, the offset being given the reference numeral and being ofsufficient dimension to accommodate the thickness of the rigid member 80(FIG. 9) and a portion of the thickness of the vertical web 41 of thebase gusset so that adjacent columns 20 may be supported by the basegussets so as to be as near to one another as possible oversubstantially their entire lengths.

Each of the base gussets 40 includes a vertically disposed web or plate41 which has a pair of supporting members 42, 46 and 62, 66 attached oneach side thereof by any suitable technique, such as riveting orwelding. These supporting members, releasably engage and support columns20. For example, supporting member 42 includes base portion 43 securedto web 41, a cup-shaped portion 44 for receiving the portion 21 ofcolumn 20 and associate rigid plate 80, and an outwardly directedportion 45 for guiding the column into the cupshaped portion 44.Together with supporting member 62, member 42 forms a clamp for adjacentcolumns. The same is also true for members 46 and 66.

To better understand the relationship between the elements for securingthe columns to the gusset, consider the rigid plate 80 of FIG. 9 to bewelded to the outside of the base portion 21 of a column 20 below theoffset 25 illustrated in FIG. 8 so that the trapezoidal aperture 81provides access to the rectangular aperture 26 and thetrapezoidal-shaped slot 82 provides access to the corresponding aperture27 and a formed slot 28 of column 20. In order to secure the columns asclosely together as possible and maintain the offset 25 at a minimum,aperture 81 and slot 82 are given the particular trapezoidal shape whichcorresponds to the trapezoidal shape of the corresponding supportingmembers, for example member 42. Of course, other shapes could beemployed; however, the shape of the aperture and slot in rigid plate 80should, of course, be such to accommodate and receive the supportingmembers, and it is preferred that the supporting members, andaccordingly the apertures and slots in the rigid plate, have lateraledges which define individual points of convergence thereabove. Therefore, the edges of the apertures and slots of plate 80 may embrace thecorresponding edges (e.g. edges 85-88 of FIG. 6) of the supportingmembers as the former are moved downwardly during assembly so that thesupport-members do not support the column at the upper edge defined by,for example, aperture 26 and aperture 81, but that the supportingmembers guide the columns during assembly, and preferably a component ofthe weight of the column is distributed along the lateral edges of theindividual clamp members.

In FIGS. 8 and 9, the column is illustrated as having a pair of feet 29and 29a and the rigid plate as having :1 corresponding pair of feet 80and 84 as defined by the slots 28 and 82, respectively. Slot 28 includesan open space 28 to accommodate and pass the threaded portion 60 of anelevational adjusting screw during assembly. The bottom edges of feet 29and 29:: rest on and the column 20 is supported by extended arms 52, 53,54 and 55 of another type of supporting member 50 which is attached toweb 41, the portions 54 and 55 extending parallel to web 41 and beingintegral with arms 52 and 53.

FIGS..8 and 9 illustrate the direct dimensional relationships betweenthe column 20 and the rigid plate 80; therefore, it is evident that feet83 and 84 of plate 80 extend below feet 29 ad 29a of column 20. Feet 83and 84, upon assembly, are directed behind fingers 54 and 55 whichprevents a walkout" or movement of the lower end of the column away fromthe gusset structure.

Gusset 40 includes a horizontally disposed portion 51 which is integralwith the web portion 41 and which has an aperture 56 therein in the areaof the feet-supporting members 50-55. A member 57 including a threadedaperture 59 is secured to the bottom of gusset portion 51 and extendsthrough aperture 56. The threaded member 57 engages an elevationaladjusting or leveling screw having a threaded portion 60 and a headportion 61. The shelf unit may therefore be leveled by adjusting screwheads 61 which also serve as supporting feet for the assembled shelvingunits. As previously noted, the threaded screw portion 60 is preventedfrom interferring with the column 20 during assembly by the provision ofslot 28' in the lower edge of the column.

Generally then there has been described a shelving construction of thetype wherein shelving units are assembled and the units are thenconnected together on an end-to-end basis to form continuous shelving ofa desired length. The shelf-supporting brackets are structurallyimproved over similar shelving constructions in that greater weight maybe carried by the shelves due to the provision of greater momentopposition through an extended lever arm and a greater lever arm bearingthan heretofore known. Further, the construction is provided with addedstrength andrigidity without a change of material or materialcharacteristics and the increase in the product weight carryingcapability is accounted for by the provision of increase strength andrigidity in the supporting structure.

Many other changes and modifications of my invention may become apparentto those versed in the art without departing from the spirit and scopeof my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A shelving assembly comprising a vertical back member for arrangementin an aligned row with the other back members, said back memberincluding a pair of spaced-apart plates and a pair of end columnsdisposed between and connected to said pair plates, each of said columnsincluding a first portion having a plurality of aligned slots thereinand a second portion having a plurality of aligned lances therein,

means for supporting said back member in a freestanding verticalposition including a gusset disposed transversely of said spaced-apartplates including a vertically disposed web, first supporting memberssecured to said web, each of said first supporting members including aflat portion partially defined by lateral edges, each of said columnsincluding a lower end and means at said lower end defining openings insaid second portions, which openings are partially defined by lateraledges which bear on the lateral edges of said flat portions to supportsaid columns, and

each of said columns including a plate portion secured to said secondportion at the lower end thereof, said second portion being offset inthe area of said plate portion to accommodate the thickness of said.plate portion and at least a portion of the thickness of said web, saidplate portion having openings therein which are generally aligned withthe openings in said second portion and of a shape to accommodate saidflat portions in the same plane therewith, and

shelf means including a pair of shelf-supporting brackets for mountingon said end columns, each of said brackets including rearwardlyextending tab means for insertion into the slots of said first portionand for bearing against the lances of said second portion.

2. The shelving assembly set forth in claim 1, wherein said columns areU-shaped and each of said second portion thereof is the base portion ofthe U, and said lances are directed inwardly ofthe U.

3. The shelving assembly set forth in claim 1, wherein said tab meansincludes a plurality of tabs at least some of said tabs including anupper edge for hearing against said lances and a lower edge including aslot therein vertically aligned with similar slots of the other tabs forreceiving the edges of the slots in said first portion of said columnswhen said tabs are inserted therein.

4. The shelving assembly set forth in claim 3, wherein said plurality oftabs includes a plurality of angularly aligned slots in said lower edgesthereof for receiving the edges of the slots in said first portion whensaid tabs are inserted therein at an angle to the horizontal.

5. The shelving assembly set forth in claim 1, wherein said meansdefining openings includes upper edges which partially define theopenings and wherein each of said outwardly extending portions of saidsupporting members include a horizontally disposed cup-shaped segmentfor receiving said upper edges of said openings in said columns, and anangularly directed segment for guiding said upper edges into saidcupshaped segment.

6. The shelving assembly set forth in claim 1, wherein said supportingmeans includes leveling screw means threadedly engaging said gusset,said screw means including a head portion for contacting a supportingsurface and an elongate threaded portion engaging said gusset, and eachsaid column includes a slot in the lower edge thereof to preventinterference between said screw and said column.

7. The shelving assembly set forth in claim 1, wherein said lateraledges of said flat portions of said first supporting members aredisposed to define a point of convergence thereabove and guide saidcolumn during assembly to the supporting means.

8. The shelving assembly set forth in claim 7, wherein the openings ineach of said plates are partially defined by edges which conform to andbear against the guiding edges of said flat portions of said supportingmembers.

i l i l

1. A shelving assembly comprising a vertical back member for arrangementin an aligned row with the other back members, said back memberincluding a pair of spaced-apart plates and a pair of end columnsdisposed between and connected to said pair of plates, each of saidcolumns including a first portion having a plurality of aligned slotstherein and a second portion having a plurality of aligned lancestherein, means for supporting said back member in a freestandingvertical position including a gusset disposed transversely of saidspaced-apart plates including a vertically disposed web, firstsupporting members secured to said web, each of said first supportingmembers including a flat portion partially defined by lateral edges,each of said columns including a lower end and means at said lower enddefining openings in said second portions, which openings are partiallydefined by lateral edges which bear on the lateral edges of said flatportions to support said columns, and each of said columns including aplate portion secured to said second portion at the lower end thereof,said second portion being offset in the area of said plate portion toaccommodate the thickness of said plate portion and at least a portionof the thickness of said web, said plate portion having openings thereinwhich are generally aligned with the openings in said second portion andof a shape to accommodate said flat portions in the same planetherewith, and shelf means including a pair of shelf-supporting bracketsfor mounting on said end columns, each of said brackets includingrearwardly extending tab means for insertion into the slots of saidfirst portion and for bearing against the lances of said second portion.2. The shelving assembly set forth in claim 1, wherein said columns areU-shaped and each of said second portion thereof is the base portion ofthe U, and said lances are directed inwardly of the U.
 3. The shelvingassembly set forth in claim 1, wherein said tab means includes aplurality of tabs at least some of said tabs including an upper edge forbearing against said lances and a lower edge including a slot thereinvertically aligned with similar slots of the other tabs for receivingthe edges of the slots in said first portion of said columns when saidtabs are inserted therein.
 4. The shelving assembly set forth in claim3, wherein said plurality of tabs includes a plurality of angularlyaligned slots in said lower edges thereof for receiving the edges of theslots in said first portion when said tabs are inserted therein at anangle to the horizontal.
 5. The shelving assembly set forth in claim 1,wherein said means defining openings includes upper edges whichpartially define the openings and wherein each of said outwardlyextending portions of said supporting members include a horizontallydisposed cup-shaped segment for receiving said upper edges of saidopenings in said columns, and an angularly directed segment for guidingsaid Upper edges into said cup-shaped segment.
 6. The shelving assemblyset forth in claim 1, wherein said supporting means includes levelingscrew means threadedly engaging said gusset, said screw means includinga head portion for contacting a supporting surface and an elongatethreaded portion engaging said gusset, and each said column includes aslot in the lower edge thereof to prevent interference between saidscrew and said column.
 7. The shelving assembly set forth in claim 1,wherein said lateral edges of said flat portions of said firstsupporting members are disposed to define a point of convergencethereabove and guide said column during assembly to the supportingmeans.
 8. The shelving assembly set forth in claim 7, wherein theopenings in each of said plates are partially defined by edges whichconform to and bear against the guiding edges of said flat portions ofsaid supporting members.